Beijing’s Party of One

China’s Communist Party will convene in October for its fifth Central Committee meeting since 2022, sparking speculation about President Xi Jinping’s intentions. The party’s self-governance drive, which has gained momentum over the past decade, takes center stage at this crucial gathering.

The conclave’s sheer scale reflects the party’s emphasis on internal reform. With over 300 full and alternate members attending, it will be one of the largest gatherings of top decision-makers since Xi’s ascension to power in 2014. The agenda, outlined by state-run Xinhua, addresses pressing issues related to self-governance – a concept increasingly synonymous with Xi’s vision for China.

This conclave is part of a broader pattern of consolidation under Xi’s leadership. Since launching his anti-corruption campaign in 2014, the president has systematically purged the party and state apparatus of perceived threats to his authority. Millions have been investigated, hundreds of senior officials removed from their posts – a testament to the regime’s willingness to wield power without restraint.

The party’s self-governance drive is not merely an internal matter; it affects China’s global relationships. Xi is aware that domestic stability and control are crucial for projecting influence abroad. The country’s changing national environment, marked by rising tensions with the US, Taiwan, and other regional powers, has created new challenges for the party’s self-governance drive.

The conclave’s implications for China’s economic reforms will be closely watched. Typically, the third plenum focuses on long-term economic restructuring. However, a delayed meeting in 2024 has upended conventional scheduling. Xi and his allies may use this opportunity to chart a new course for China’s economy – one that balances growth with an increasingly assertive global posture.

The party’s constitution requires at least one Central Committee meeting per year, but the frequency and timing of these gatherings have become arbitrary under Xi’s leadership. Seven meetings are held between major party congresses, which convene every decade. The fifth plenum usually addresses strategic planning – a nod to the five-year plan that has guided China’s economic development for decades.

Xi’s fixation on self-governance has historical precedent in Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, both of which touted internal party discipline as key drivers of revolutionary progress. While Xi’s approach is distinct in its emphasis on technocratic reform, the parallels between his vision and that of his predecessors are striking.

As the world waits for the outcome of this conclave, one thing is clear: China’s Communist Party will emerge from these deliberations stronger, more centralized – and more beholden to Xi Jinping than ever before. The implications for regional stability, global governance, and human rights in China will be significant. What comes next remains uncertain, but Beijing’s party of one will continue to shape the world according to its own designs.

The real question now is not what this conclave will accomplish, but rather what it portends for the future of China’s internal governance and external ambitions. Will Xi’s vision for a more centralized, technocratic state ultimately prove sustainable in an increasingly turbulent global landscape? Only time will tell – but one thing is clear: the consequences of Beijing’s party politics will be felt far beyond the Great Wall.